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‼️ THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT THAT COULD BE TRIGGERING. PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION ‼️

THE PAST MONTH SINCE THEIR RETURN FROM THEIR CALIFORNIAN HOLIDAY HAD BEEN A WHIRLWIND FOR BOTH BILLY AND ISADORA.

Ever since she'd started college back in September, life had turned into a frantic shuffle of long days and longer nights. The balancing act between her classes and part-time job meant they barely saw each other, even though they lived under the same roof. The house that had once been full of laughter and shared moments now felt strangely quiet, almost like they were roommates passing through instead of a couple. Billy tried not to dwell on it too much, but the distance between them was something he couldn't ignore.

That morning, he descended the stairs, still a little groggy from sleep, and was surprised to find Isadora already up, sitting at the dining table with a slice of toast in her hand. She looked tired, her usual lively energy dimmed by the weight of responsibility. Her blonde hair, slightly tangled from sleep, fell over her shoulder as she absentmindedly munched on her breakfast.

"Morning," she mumbled through a bite of toast, barely looking up as Billy entered the room.

"You're up early, Princess," Billy said, raising an eyebrow in surprise. He'd been getting used to mornings where Isadora was already gone before he even rolled out of bed.

"Mm, yeah, I've got to leave for college soon. It's another long day," she replied, suppressing a yawn and placing her toast back on the plate. She glanced up at Billy, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Still getting used to your short hair, you know."

Billy smiled, running a hand through the short crop of hair he'd cut a few weeks ago. "You're going to college again today? It feels like you're always there," he commented, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"Just one class today, but I should be home by lunch unless I get called into work today. You're working today, right?" she asked, standing up and gathering her plate to wash it.

"Yeah, I've got to leave in a bit. Should be home by this afternoon, though," Billy said. As she moved around the kitchen, he admired her from a distance, the familiar ease of her motions calming him. "Want me to grab some takeaway on the way home? I was thinking I could treat you."

Isadora perked up slightly at the mention of food, turning to face him with a grin. "Ooh, yes, please! I wouldn't mind—"

"A salad from your favourite restaurant," Billy interrupted, grinning cheekily.

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in mock exasperation. "You don't know that's what I was going to ask for!"

Billy chuckled. "Oh? Then what were you going to ask for?"

Isadora paused, raising an eyebrow as if to make a point. "... A salad from my favourite restaurant," she admitted, a playful smile sneaking onto her face.

"See? I know you too well, Princess," Billy replied, his voice softening as she walked toward him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he could feel the warmth of her body pressed against his. Standing on her tiptoes, she tried to rest her head on his shoulder, but he couldn't help but chuckle, turning slightly to face her.

"I don't think you're tall enough for that, Princess," he teased, smirking down at her.

"Oh, hush, William. I'll make it work someday," she laughed softly, pulling away slightly. "But I've really got to get going. I should get ready."

As Isadora turned to head upstairs, she glanced back at him, her expression softening for a moment. "I love you, William," she said, her voice gentle.

"I love you too, Isadora," Billy replied, kissing her forehead. She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the edges before she hurried up the stairs to grab her books and change. Billy sighed as he watched her leave, his thoughts wandering back to the strange distance that had grown between them over the past few months. No matter how many times she reassured him that she loved him, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something had shifted.

Was it college? Was it work? Or was it something else entirely?

After she left for class, Billy tried to shake the thoughts away as he got ready for his own day. The nagging feeling in his chest didn't dissipate, though, and as he headed off to work, he couldn't help but wonder if he was just overthinking things or if something was truly wrong.

Later that afternoon, Billy returned home, expecting to find the house empty. Instead, he was surprised to find Isadora already back, sound asleep on their bed. It wasn't even late, but he knew she'd been working late shifts recently, so he figured she was just catching up on sleep. He stood in the doorway of their bedroom for a moment, watching her sleep. Her blonde hair was fanned out across the pillow, her body curled up with their dog Milo nestled beside her.

Despite Isadora's constant protests about keeping Milo off the bed, Billy knew she secretly loved having him there. He chuckled quietly, shaking his head at the sight. Even in sleep, she couldn't resist breaking her own rules.

Billy grabbed a fresh set of clothes and headed to the bathroom for a shower, humming to himself as the hot water poured over him. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, the steam and warmth easing the tension from his muscles, but suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the calm.

Billy froze.

He quickly turned off the water, heart racing as he scrambled to dry himself off. Something was wrong. He pulled on his pants in a rush and sprinted back into the bedroom, where he found Isadora sitting up in bed, her face buried in her hands as sobs wracked her body.

"Issi, what happened? What's wrong?" Billy asked urgently as he rushed to her side, his heart pounding. He sat down beside her, his arms wrapping around her trembling form.

"I ... it wasn't my fault ... it wasn't my fault," she whispered between sobs, her voice small and broken.

Billy's heart ached seeing her like this. He held her tightly, gently stroking her hair. "Shh, it's okay, Princess. I'm here. I've got you," he whispered, kissing the top of her head.

Isadora collapsed into his embrace, her tears soaking his chest. "I-I'm sorry ... I'm sorry for crying and ... for everything," she sobbed, her body trembling with each breath.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Issi. Nothing at all," Billy reassured her, his hands gently stroking her back as he tried to calm her down.

"It was my fault ... all of it," she whispered, her words barely audible through the tears.

"What was your fault, Issi?" Billy asked gently, trying to piece together what was going on, but before she could answer, the doorbell rang, interrupting the moment.

Isadora pulled away from Billy, her face pale as she wiped at her tear-streaked cheeks. She stood up shakily, walking downstairs to answer the door. Billy followed her, his concern deepening with each step.

When she opened the door, Isadora froze.

There, standing on the doorstep, was Daniel Miller.

"W-What are you doing here?" Isadora stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Hi, Dory," Daniel said softly, his eyes full of regret.

"No. You lost the right to call me that. You said you didn't want to be in my life anymore. How did you even find out where I live?" Isadora demanded, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and pain.

"Katie told me," Daniel admitted, his gaze dropping to the ground.

Billy, who had reached the bottom of the stairs by now, recognised Daniel from their recent trip to California. His brow furrowed as he looked between Isadora and Daniel, trying to make sense of what was happening.

"Katie told you? Of course, she did," Isadora muttered, bitterness creeping into her voice. "What do you want, Daniel? Why are you here?"

"Come on, Dory. You're not being fair right now," Daniel replied, his voice pleading.

"Not being fair? I went back to Santa Monica to apologise, to make things right with you, and you told me you didn't want anything to do with me. So why don't you go back to that?" she snapped, her hands trembling as she tried to close the door.

"Wait! Kyle heard you were in Santa Monica, and—"

"No! Don't you dare bring him up. I don't want to hear his name ever again," Isadora interrupted, her voice sharp and pained.

"Isadora, just listen to me —" Daniel began again, but before he could finish, Billy stepped forward, his protective instincts kicking in.

"She told you to leave," Billy said firmly, standing between Isadora and Daniel.

Daniel sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine. I'll be in town for a few days if you change your mind, Dory."

"I won't. I don't want to ever see you again," Isadora replied, her voice cold as she turned and walked away, sitting down on the stairs as Billy closed the door.

Billy turned to her, his expression soft. "Are you okay, Princess?"

"What do you think?" Isadora snapped, her voice cracking before she buried her face in her hands. "S-Sorry ... I didn't mean to snap."

"You don't have to keep saying sorry, Issi," Billy said gently, sitting beside her and rubbing her back. But when his hand brushed over the scar on her shoulder, Isadora flinched, pulling away abruptly.

"Why do you always flinch when I touch that spot?" Billy asked, concern evident in his voice.

"I... I don't," Isadora mumbled, standing up quickly and heading to the bathroom.

Billy followed her, leaning against the doorframe as he watched her splash water on her face. "What's going on, Issi? Talk to me."

"Just drop it, Billy. Please," she whispered, avoiding his eyes.

"Why? I can't help you if you don't let me in," Billy said, his frustration mixing with worry.

"I don't want to talk about it!" she snapped, her voice rising as she splashed more water on her face.

"Isadora, you never want to talk about anything anymore. I don't know what I've done wrong, but over the past month, you've been pushing me further and further away," Billy said softly, his voice thick with emotion.

Isadora's hands trembled as she gripped the edges of the sink. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating, as she struggled to find the words that wouldn't come.

"I haven't! I just ... I don't want to talk about it," Isadora's voice broke as she spoke, her fingers gripping the edge of the sink so tightly her knuckles turned white. She stood with her back to Billy, her reflection staring hollowly back at her from the bathroom mirror. Tears brimmed in her eyes, threatening to spill over as her chest tightened with the weight of words she didn't want to say. "Besides ... I don't—I don't think you'd love me anymore if you knew the truth."

Billy stood a few steps behind her, his heart aching at the sight of her fragile state. Her words caught him off guard. He couldn't believe she thought that, that she could imagine for a second that his love for her was conditional. He stepped closer, his voice soft yet laced with concern. "Why wouldn't I love you anymore?"

Isadora's shoulders trembled as she inhaled shakily. Her eyes were fixed on the sink, her head hanging low, as if looking at him would shatter the last bit of control she had. "Because if you knew the truth, you'd leave me. Just like everyone else did."

Those words hit Billy like a punch to the gut. He could feel her fear, her vulnerability bleeding through each syllable, but he couldn't understand why she believed that. He took another step closer, his hand instinctively reaching out to her, though he hesitated, not wanting to overwhelm her. "I'm not going anywhere, Princess," he said softly, his voice full of reassurance. "And I'm certainly not going to leave you. Not now, not ever."

Isadora just nodded slightly, but she still didn't meet his gaze. Her eyes flickered toward the mirror, and for a fleeting second, their eyes met in the reflection, but then, it was as if something inside her broke. Her knees buckled, and before Billy could react, she collapsed to the floor, covering her mouth with her hand as sobs began to tear through her.

"Isadora!" Billy rushed forward, catching her before she hit the cold bathroom tiles. He pulled her into his arms, cradling her against his chest as her body shook with the force of her cries. "I've got you, Is. You're alright. I'm here. I'm not leaving you, I promise," he murmured, his voice tender as he stroked her hair.

Isadora clung to him, her sobs muffled by his chest, her tears soaking into his shirt. "I'm sorry," she choked out between sobs, her voice trembling with guilt and shame. "I'm so sorry for snapping at you ... for pushing you away. You've done nothing wrong."

Billy's heart squeezed as he held her tighter. He didn't care about any of that. All he cared about was her. "You don't have to apologise for anything, Princess," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You don't have anything to be sorry for." Tears pricked at his own eyes as he felt her pain, her fear, and her overwhelming guilt. He stroked her back gently, wishing he could take all her suffering away. "I'm here for you, Is. I'm not going anywhere, I promise. I've got you, love."

Isadora tried to speak, but her words came out in broken gasps. "I ... I had a nightmare," she finally managed, her voice so quiet Billy had to strain to hear her.

"What was it about, Princess?" he asked gently, though a deep sense of dread had already settled in his chest. He had seen how shaken she'd been these past few weeks, the way she flinched when certain things came up, how she'd retreated more and more into herself, and now, hearing her talk about nightmares, he feared the worst.

Isadora's tears slowed, but her body remained tense. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, though fresh tears kept spilling over. "It ... it was about why I flinch every time you touch that spot on my shoulder."

Billy froze. The scar. He had noticed how she tensed up whenever his fingers brushed over that particular spot, but she had always dismissed it, saying it was nothing. Now, hearing her say this, his heart sank. He sat down beside her on the bathroom floor, pulling her hand into his, squeezing it gently. "You can tell me anything, Is," he said, his voice steady but filled with concern. "You know that, right? Whatever it is, I'm not going anywhere."

Isadora swallowed hard, her eyes glued to the floor as she struggled to gather her thoughts. "I ... I had a boyfriend back in California," she began hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. Billy's stomach twisted at her words, but he kept his face calm, letting her speak. "He wasn't ... he wasn't a good person."

Billy's jaw clenched, but he forced himself to stay calm for her sake. "I'm not jealous, Princess. You can tell me," he said softly, though the knot in his stomach tightened with every word she spoke.

Isadora's lip quivered, and she gave a sad, half-smile. "You don't have to worry, love. I ... I never loved him. He was a terrible boyfriend, but I stayed with him ... because I was scared."

Billy furrowed his brow, his mind reeling with questions, but he kept quiet, sensing that this was something Isadora needed to get off her chest. He squeezed her hand gently, urging her to continue.

"He cheated on me. I knew about it, and I thought that was the worst thing he'd do to me," she said, her voice faltering. "But ... I stayed. He threatened me. Said if I left him, he'd hurt himself, or hurt me."

Billy's heart broke as he listened to her. He couldn't imagine what she had gone through, how she had felt trapped, powerless. "You stayed because you were scared," he said softly, understanding in his voice.

Isadora nodded, her hands trembling in his. "Yeah ... and the cheating wasn't even the worst of it."

Billy's breath hitched, a wave of dread washing over him. "What do you mean, Is?"

Her voice wavered, and she couldn't meet his eyes. "He ... he started pressuring me for things I wasn't ready for. Sex. I said no, but he didn't listen. The first time he tried to force himself on me, I managed to push him off. I don't even know how I did it, but I did, and ... I stayed. Even after that."

Billy's hands tightened around hers, his heart pounding in his chest. He fought to keep his emotions in check, but inside, he was filled with rage at the man who had hurt her. "He tried to force himself on you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Isadora nodded, her face crumpling as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "It wasn't the last time. Every time I said no, he got more violent. He'd hit me ... hard enough to leave bruises." She choked back a sob, her voice breaking as she continued. "The last time ... he got angry. Really angry. I refused again, and he—he grabbed a knife. That's ... that's where the scar came from."

Billy's breath caught in his throat as the weight of her words sank in. He gently reached out, brushing his fingers over the scar on her shoulder. "He stabbed you?"

Isadora nodded, her body trembling with the memory. "I remember running out of his house, blood soaking through my shirt. I didn't go to the hospital. I didn't tell anyone. I just went home ... threw the shirt away ... and then I went to a party that night. Like nothing happened." Her voice cracked as she recalled the memory. "It was right after my dad died, and I ... I didn't know how to deal with it. Any of it."

Billy sat there, frozen for a moment, as the full extent of her pain hit him like a tidal wave. He had no idea she'd been carrying this all along, silently suffering. His heart ached for her, for all she had been through. "Is ... I'm so sorry that happened to you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Is that why you flinch when I touch your shoulder?"

Isadora nodded again, wiping at her tears. "Y-Yeah. It's not you, Billy. It's just ... it reminds me of him, of that night."

Billy pulled her into his arms, holding her as tightly as he dared, his chest aching with the need to protect her, to heal the wounds that man had left behind. "Oh, love," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Isadora buried her face in his chest, her body shaking with silent sobs. "That's what the nightmares are about," she admitted quietly. "That night. I don't know why they're coming back now, but I've been having them, and ... and I'm sorry, Billy. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

Billy kissed the top of her head, cradling her as if he could shield her from all the darkness in the world. "You don't have to apologise, Princess. You've been through so much, and I'm just ... I'm so sorry you went through that alone, but you don't have to anymore. I'm here. I'll always be here."

Isadora looked up at him, her tear-streaked face filled with so much pain, so much guilt. "I just ... I thought if you knew, you wouldn't love me anymore. I feel so dirty because of it. Like ... like I'm still carrying him with me."

Billy's heart broke at the sight of her, so vulnerable, so afraid of being rejected. He cupped her face in his hands, his eyes locking with hers. "Is, what happened to you doesn't make you dirty. It doesn't change how I feel about you, not one bit. That man ... he doesn't have any power over you anymore. He can't hurt you, not now, not ever again."

Isadora sniffled, her lips trembling. "But ... it feels like he still does."

Billy shook his head firmly, his voice gentle but filled with conviction. "He doesn't. I won't let him. You're safe now, Is, and I love you. Nothing is ever going to change that."

Isadora stared at him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of doubt, but all she found was love. Pure, unwavering love. Slowly, she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his in a soft, tentative kiss. When she pulled back, her eyes were still full of uncertainty, but there was a flicker of hope there too.

"I'm really glad I met you," she whispered, her voice still trembling but steadier now.

Billy smiled, his heart full. "I'm glad I met you too, Princess, and I promise you, I'm not going anywhere. I love you so much."

"I love you too," Isadora whispered, her voice soft but filled with warmth. She shuffled closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder as they sat there, holding each other on the bathroom floor. Despite everything she had been through, despite all the pain and the nightmares, she knew now that she wasn't alone. They had each other, and that was enough.

Billy held her close, stroking her hair gently as the silence between them stretched on. There were no more words left to say, but none were needed. In that moment, they both knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, no matter what darkness still lingered from the past, they would face it together. Their love was strong, strong enough to weather any storm.

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I originally wrote this and removed it from the book but have decided to include it because it's a part of Isadora's story and it will relate to the storyline particularly in season five.

Enjoy! Xo

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